Bangladesh started the Asia Cup Super Four game with a loss. Pakistan won by 7 wickets in Imam-Rizwan’s fifty. Bangladesh’s innings ended with just 193 runs at the start. In response, the Pakistanis confirmed the victory with 7 wickets and 63 balls in hand.
Pakistan did not take any pressure to chase runs in a low-scoring match. However, the team could not score more runs in the opening pair. Left-handed opener Babar Azam was dismissed after scoring 20 runs off 31 balls. And team leader Babar Azam scored 17 runs off 22 balls to play for the second wicket.
Meanwhile, opener Imam-ul-Haq batted brilliantly with Mohammad Rizwan in the third wicket pair. At this time, these two batsmen made a pair of 75 runs. That’s why the team got the basis of victory. Imam stopped at 78 runs after completing his personal half-century. Meanwhile, Rizwan confirmed the victory with Agha Salman. Rizwan remained unbeaten on 63 runs and Salman on 12 runs.
Earlier, Bangladesh team leader Shakib Al Hasan won the toss and decided to bat at the beginning of the match in Lahore. But the start was not good for Bangladesh. Mehdi Hasan Miraj caught Fakhar Zaman on the first ball of the second over of the innings. Lytton returned to 16 off 11 balls to signal a good start in the second wicket.
Tawheed Hridyo could not take advantage of going down to bat. The right-handed batsman scored 2 runs off 9 balls before being bowled by Haris Rauf.
Team leader Shakib Al Hasan and wicketkeeper batsman Mushfiqur Rahim took the lead of Bangladesh, which fell to 4 wickets for only 47 runs. These two batsmen batted positively. Both made a pair of 100 runs. After completing his personal half-century, Shakib stopped at 53 runs.
After that Mushfiq was at one end but nobody could take advantage with the bat at the other end. After completing his fifty after Shakib, Mushfiqur stopped at 64 runs. His innings is arranged in five fours. Besides, Shamim scored 16, Afif 12, Taskin zero and Shariful scored 1. Hasan Mahmud remains unbeaten by 1 run.
Haris Rauf took maximum four wickets for Pakistan. Naseem Shah took three wickets. Besides, three bowlers have seen one wicket each.
(06 September/MM)